Still on the lookout for the right gift? Join us this Saturday in the MyKilos showroom on Leipziger Strasse for a little Christmas pop-up shopping. Our neighbors at Mykilosare decked out with good design: From wooden bread-storage boxes to power socket-connecting lamps, to glasses and tables, and their new assortment of wooden stools. Our new book, Cee Cee Berlin No.2, will also be available to purchase. Top that with Maike Dietrich’s lush and warming knitwear. Her Berlin-based brand, Maiami, will stock the showroom with a selection of sweaters and accessories. Expect good vibes and great drinks, and the chance to get to know the teams behind the brands. We’ll see you there!

What’s an image worth? To a visual audience, record covers can have more influence on our buying of a record than the music itself. Opening this Friday at C/O Berlin, the Total Records exhibition will showcase around 500 classic and lesser-known vinyl covers from the 1960s to the 2000s. Looking at both the artists in front and behind the camera, the images on display are rich with identity, style, and scandal. For the musical artists, covers are a representation of who they are, not rarely intended as provocation, to spark controversy, or make a political statement. For the artists designing covers, such as Robert Frank’s portrayal of The Rolling Stones, or Jean Paul Goude’s representation of Grace Jones, cover design was a way to popularize their work and experiment with photographic technique. Join the opening this Friday for live music and free entry. (Text: Victoria Pease)

Strolling through Lausitzer Platz lately, you may have been winked at by a friendly neon panda. Next time you pass by hungry, step into the shop it fronts. Inside, you’ll find a modular menu full of textures and flavors from far across Asia. Welcome to ThePandaNoodle: the restaurant inviting you to leave your noodle-eating preconceptions behind. Start with the “basic set”: a bowl of freshly-made ramen noodles, croutons, lime and cilantro, and homemade pickled delights, such as cubed kohlrabi kimchi or cucumber, lightly pickled in soy. Top it off with a sauce and a side: The combination of tofu and avocado with vinaigrette gives a new meaning to the word silky. Owner Daeng and Head Chef Jar create their mostly-vegan offerings fresh from scratch in an open kitchen. The cozy interior is illuminated by neon installations and flickering candles. With the cold coming in, round up your friends, pick up a pair of chopsticks, and let ThePandanoodle warm your belly. (Text / Photos: Anna Dorothea Ker)

Abu Dhabi’s art scene is having a moment. You could go as far as saying that it’s the Berlin of the Persian Gulf. Beyond its skyscrapers and man-made islands, the capital thrives with rich cultural heritage. This Friday at Kunstquartier Bethanien, seventeen young, emerging, and established artists from Abu Dhabi are opening an exhibition titled Art Nomads-Made in the Emirates, featuring painted works, installations, and photography. To complement the Kreuzberg vernissage, early next year will see several artists from Berlin present their works in Abu Dhabi. To celebrate the opening this weekend, a symposium led by art professionals working in and with the United Arab Emirates will take place on Saturday, looking at Abu Dhabi’s rapid transformation, and the influence of culture in building cities. (Text: Victoria Pease / Photo: Reem Al Ghaith (top), Taqwa (bottom))

Move over coffee maker: tonight’s house party will have you heading home with more than a little buzz. At a one-off loft space, Heineken is launching The Sub, a home beer dispenser that keeps your favorite brew cooled to two degrees. Unpack your favorite Santa sweaters for the Christmas-themed night, where a terrace complete with fire-side drinks and bites from the barbecue, courtesy of Pacifico Berlin, await. If you can’t make it, catch up with old friends at one of the beer-tasting evenings and ‘after-work get-togethers’ planned throughout December, in which beer sommeliers will introduce – or re-introduce – you to the perfect pint. (Text: Victoria Pease)